Victoria Police is poised to post PSOs   at a suburban court after police prosecutors subjected to threats and violence, and fearing for their safety, have refused to wear the blue uniform.

One prosecutor at the Moorabbin Justice Centre, in Melbourne's south, underwent surgery after an assault on him aggravated an existing injury, leaving him unable to return to work for several months, a prosecutor told Fairfax Media.

Other prosecutors have been the target of violent threats from people appearing in court and members of the public, the prosecutor said.

"[Prosecutors] are not trained or equipped or armed with things like spray, handcuffs or guns," he said.

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"There's been a number of incidents, including people being threatened and assaulted and other issues.

"If you're not wearing the uniform you're not going to be targeted."

Police prosecutors – who wear the blue uniform but do not carry weapons – have also been left to perform public safety functions at court in the absence of frontline police or PSOs – protective services officers.

In June, a prosecutor had to step in to arrest a man who had just been sentenced to an immediate jail term, but had been able to walk out of the court and nearly make it out of the building.  

The Bayside Leader reported at the time that people in the courtroom had tried to block other prosecutors from getting to the man.  

In 2012, another convicted criminal had successfully fled the court and managed to steal a car before he was apprehended five suburbs away in Carrum Downs.

Action taken by the prosecutors and the Police Association led to recommendations recently made by WorkSafe, and included bolstering security at the facility, the union's secretary Ron Iddles said.

After months of negotiations and six weeks of prosecutors wearing plain clothes, a formal commitment of two PSOs to be permanently stationed at Moorabin is expected this week.

Mr Iddles said the union on Friday had received a verbal promise that two PSOs would be in place from January 5, with formal confirmation expected on Monday.

The Moorabbin court, which was opened in November 2007, has never had dedicated PSOs and unlike most suburban courts, is not located next to a police station.  The closest police station is nearly two kilometres away.

Private contractor Wilson Security provides staff at the Moorabbin court but their primary role is to scan for weapons at the door, and they lack arrest powers, Mr Iddles said.

"Wilson have no powers whatsoever, if something happens they call the police," he said. 

"When you bring a prisoner in and sit him in the dock, or the body of the court, there's very little or no security.

 

"Now you'll have PSOs that are employed by Victoria Police."

 

Mr Iddles said there had been similar security issues at the Werribee Justice Centre that were yet to be resolved.

On Friday, Acting Deputy Commissioner Jack Blayney said management was aware of "security concerns" at Moorabbin and was "currently reviewing the situation to determine the best and most appropriate course of action".

"Victoria Police is dedicated to keeping its employees and the public safe," he said.

PSOs are already at six suburban courts – the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, County Court, Supreme Court, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Children's Court.

Fairfax Media understands the Moorabbin prosecutors will  not return to their uniforms until PSOs are permanently posted at the court.